Won’t Ya Let Me Take You On a Sea Cruise?

I havenít missed Fourth of July fireworks in almost 16 years… since the day my daughter was born

… on the Fourth of July.

Yes, I guess we kind of had our own fireworks in the delivery room that year, but it wasnít really the same thing.

I donít typically get an epidural when I go see fireworks.

But this year we’re missing them because we’re doing a family trip to Iceland.

Why Iceland?

Why not?

Itís actually really close (about a 5 hour non-stop flight), they have 23 hours of daylight, and an average daily temperature of about 66F. The whole country is covered in glaciers and hot springs.

Strokkur geyser in Iceland. (One of the few you can spell and pronounce!)

There are spectacular volcanoes, geysers and waterfalls to see, ice ridges to climb, springs to soak in, and whales to watch. We are really, really excited!

There are, however, no fireworks. When I was little, I thought everyone celebrated July 4th with fireworks until my brother told me I was a dummy and it is an AMERICAN holiday. And since Iceland is not part of the US, I have to assume there will be no fireworks.

The good news is, later on in July I will be going to a huge blog conference called Blogher in Chicago and I actually will get to see some fireworks.

Even better, I get to see them from a boat!

Iíve been invited aboard a chartered Seadog speedboat for a spectacular fireworks cruise! Since Iím not from Chicago, I was not familiar with this company, but I checked them out to make sure it was going to be safe as well as fun. Turns out they are a Trip Advisor 2013 Certificate of Excellence winner, they offer cruises for small groups and individuals, as well as customizable group events for up to 450 people, and feature specific holiday cruises, such as Memorial Day, the 4th of July (!) and Halloween. Seemed legit to me.

But the thing that I really loved was the fact that ?they are pet friendly so your dog can go on a Seadog cruise as well! (Dogs ride for free, space permitting).

My dog Monty who is very sad he’s not going on a Seadog cruise

Iím not actually bringing my dog on this trip, and heís going to be really annoyed when he finds out I could have taken him on a Seadog cruise. But heíll get over it.

In case you are headed to Blogher in Chicago, or just going to Chicago for another reason, or happen to LIVE in Chicago but never heard of Seadog, hereís a little more info I learned about them (this is from their website):

Seadog offers four fun ways to see and experience Chicago from the water:

Lakefront Speedboat Tour: ?This 30-minute cruise along the shoreline offers a descriptive tour of Chicagoís famous skyline, while playing your favorite music.

?Extreme Thrill Ride: ?This cruise is perfect for the dare-devil in you! This 30-minute ride features splash down stops, 180-degree turns, slalom runs and more.

River and Lake Architectural Tour: ?Enjoy historic views of Chicagoís famous landmarks and neighborhoods during this 75-minute cruise on both Lake Michigan and the Chicago River.

Lakefront Fireworks Cruise: ?Enjoy front-row seats to the spectacular fireworks display aboard our Lakefront Fireworks Cruise! Cruise along Lake Michigan with an exciting speedboat ride paired with an informative tour of the Chicago skyline, then end the evening with a dazzling fireworks show and top-40 hits playing in the background! The open aired vessel allows for panoramic views, providing a perfect view. The Seadog Fireworks Cruise is available on Wednesdays and Saturdays, running from Memorial Day Ė Labor Day.

Iím assuming the one Iím booked for is the Lakefront Fireworks Cruise. It looks like itís going to be a fun time andÖ.

Iím sure it will float my boat! (ha!)

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post by Seadog, Iceland, our Founding Fathers, people who make fireworks, or anyone else. The opinions here are all my own. For more information, about Seadog, please visit www.seadogcruises.com/chicago/.

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I love fireworks! Especially Fourth of July fireworks!

I havenít missed Fourth of July fireworks in almost 16 years… since the day my daughter was born
… on the Fourth of July.
Yes, I guess we kind of had our own fireworks in the delivery room that year, but it wasnít really the same thing.
I donít typically get an epidural when I go see fireworks.

But this year we’re missing them because we’re doing a family trip to Iceland.
Why Iceland?
Why not?
Itís actually really close (about a 5 hour non-stop flight), they have 23 hours of daylight, and an average daily temperature of about 66F. The whole country is covered in glaciers and hot springs.

Strokkur geyser in Iceland. (One of the few you can spell and pronounce!)

There are spectacular volcanoes, geysers and waterfalls to see, ice ridges to climb, springs to soak in, and whales to watch. We are really, really excited!

There are, however, no fireworks. When I was little, I thought everyone celebrated July 4th with fireworks until my brother told me I was a dummy and it is an AMERICAN holiday. And since Iceland is not part of the US, I have to assume there will be no fireworks.

The good news is, later on in July I will be going to a huge blog conference called Blogher in Chicago and I actually will get to see some fireworks.

Even better, I get to see them from a boat!

Iíve been invited aboard a chartered Seadog speedboat for a spectacular fireworks cruise! Since Iím not from Chicago, I was not familiar with this company, but I checked them out to make sure it was going to be safe as well as fun. Turns out they are a Trip Advisor 2013 Certificate of Excellence winner, they offer cruises for small groups and individuals, as well as customizable group events for up to 450 people, and feature specific holiday cruises, such as Memorial Day, the 4th of July (!) and Halloween. Seemed legit to me.

But the thing that I really loved was the fact that ?they are pet friendly so your dog can go on a Seadog cruise as well! (Dogs ride for free, space permitting).

My dog Monty who is very sad he’s not going on a Seadog cruise

Iím not actually bringing my dog on this trip, and heís going to be really annoyed when he finds out I could have taken him on a Seadog cruise. But heíll get over it.

In case you are headed to Blogher in Chicago, or just going to Chicago for another reason, or happen to LIVE in Chicago but never heard of Seadog, hereís a little more info I learned about them (this is from their website):

Seadog offers four fun ways to see and experience Chicago from the water:
Lakefront Speedboat Tour: ?This 30-minute cruise along the shoreline offers a descriptive tour of Chicagoís famous skyline, while playing your favorite music.
?Extreme Thrill Ride: ?This cruise is perfect for the dare-devil in you! This 30-minute ride features splash down stops, 180-degree turns, slalom runs and more.
River and Lake Architectural Tour: ?Enjoy historic views of Chicagoís famous landmarks and neighborhoods during this 75-minute cruise on both Lake Michigan and the Chicago River.
Lakefront Fireworks Cruise: ?Enjoy front-row seats to the spectacular fireworks display aboard our Lakefront Fireworks Cruise! Cruise along Lake Michigan with an exciting speedboat ride paired with an informative tour of the Chicago skyline, then end the evening with a dazzling fireworks show and top-40 hits playing in the background! The open aired vessel allows for panoramic views, providing a perfect view. The Seadog Fireworks Cruise is available on Wednesdays and Saturdays, running from Memorial Day Ė Labor Day.

Iím assuming the one Iím booked for is the Lakefront Fireworks Cruise. It looks like itís going to be a fun time andÖ.

Iím sure it will float my boat! (ha!)

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post by Seadog, Iceland, our Founding Fathers, people who make fireworks, or anyone else. The opinions here are all my own. For more information, about Seadog, please visit www.seadogcruises.com/chicago/.
To learn more about Iceland, go to VisitIceland.com
To find out why we shoot off fireworks on the 4th of July, CLICK HERE
(hint: It has something to do with John Adams).